Though it frequently stays a complicated, changing patchwork rather than a set identity, culture impacts our understanding of ourselves and how we relate to others. According to Maya Angelou, “My friends, we are more alike than different.” According to scientific research, cultural experiences have an impact on social behavior and brain development, which emphasizes the value of accepting other stories. What assumptions are challenged and our sense of belonging strengthened by personal narratives, artistic creations, and traditions? Authentic comments that demonstrate how culture can profoundly and unexpectedly inspire self-discovery, empathy, and resilience are examined in this compilation.

Chaldean Memoir Rekindles Cultural Pride

In 2012, while writing an article about a little-known book, I discovered “Memoirs of a Babylonian Princess” by Maria Theresa Asmar. It’s a memoir of a 19th-century Chaldean woman from Telkaif, my ancestral village in northern Iraq. This revelation profoundly reshaped my connection to my identity and culture. Maria, a traveler, writer, and advocate for women’s rights, emerged as an extraordinary figure whose life mirrored my own in uncanny ways.

I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, but my roots trace back to Telkaif, a historically Chaldean town that once held the largest Chaldean population before its destruction by ISIS in 2014. Chaldeans are Neo-Babylonians who still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus. For much of my life, our cultural heritage felt fragile, slipping through the cracks of time and history. Discovering Maria’s memoir was like unearthing a forgotten treasure. Here was a woman who, nearly 200 years ago, defied societal norms, journeyed alone across the Middle East and Europe, and chronicled her life as a Christian in the Ottoman Empire. Her courage, intellect, and resilience deeply resonated with me.

Maria’s memoir, published in 1844, details her encounters with royalty, her advocacy for women’s education, and her unwavering pride in her Chaldean identity. She wore her traditional Telkaif attire with dignity, even as she navigated foreign lands. Like her, I’ve traversed the world, often finding more appreciation from Western colleagues than from my own community, which remains preoccupied with survival. Her story validated my experiences and reminded me that preserving our culture requires both strength and sacrifice.

Maria’s mission to uplift women aligned with my own work as a writer and filmmaker. She founded a school for women in Baghdad and championed education and equality, celebrating the resilience of women from diverse cultures. Her efforts reminded me that the fight for women’s rights is not new but part of a continuum women like her began centuries ago. Her determination inspires my advocacy for amplifying women’s voices, especially within marginalized communities.

Rediscovering Asmar’s legacy also highlighted the fragility of cultural memory. Her memoirs were largely forgotten until Iraqi-British historian Emily Porter rediscovered and reintroduced them in the early 2000s. Maria, celebrated in her time and even sponsored by Queen Victoria, reminds me that our work has value, even if its impact is recognized long after our time.

Weam Namou, Author & Filmmaker, Unique Voices in Films

Hedwig Challenges Identity Norms

The film that completely reshaped how I see identity and culture is “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” It’s my favorite movie of all time. John Cameron Mitchell crafted a classic – from the over-the-top costumes, the amazing music, to Mitchell’s performance as Hedwig, the film depicts the raw, messy, universal journey of creating a life for yourself despite your circumstances or flaws.

What hit me so hard was how the film made me realize that identity isn’t fixed; it’s something you craft, shape, and evolve over time. It was the first time I saw a story that suggested you can be your own work of art, and that you don’t have to fit into one (Wig in a) Box or one label to be valid. 

It also showed me that having love for yourself can be the greatest love of all. That perspective has had a huge impact on how I express myself artistically and how I see my own life.

Patrick Tindall, Author/Artist/Content Creator

Gershwin’s Lullaby Exposes Cultural Divide

Summertime by George Gershwin is one of the most covered standards of all time. It was already well known to me before I discovered it was a lullaby from Porgy and Bess. Then I looked into the fact that Clara, a mother, is singing it to her baby, but later the nanny sings it. The detail is that the nanny is African-American, and when she sings, “and your ma is good looking,” she’s really referring to the fact that her skin is still beautifully smooth, whereas the nanny’s is rougher because of the scrubbing and laboring that she does. The divide between different heritages is really exposed in this later rendition and in a very clever way that George and his brother Ira (lyricist) were extremely aware of.

Dr Robin Harrison, CEO, Founder & Chief Examiner, The Maestro Online LTD

Stravinsky Inspires New Approach to Healing

Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” shifted my perspective. The chaotic rhythm, dissonance, and pulsing undercurrent beneath the wildness mirrored something I had never processed in my own story. I grew up in a household with strict dietary rules: measured spoons, timed meals, and nothing wasted. Stravinsky’s composition felt like metabolic rebellion set to music—everything that disrupts equilibrium so it can remake itself stronger.

It changed how I viewed healing. Nutrition recovery is messy. People relapse. Habits spike and then flatline. I stopped treating that as an error and started incorporating those rhythms into their care. One athlete gained 1.4 kilos, dropped to baseline, and then built lean mass from that fluctuation. No panic—just recalibration.

In practice, I began scoring patient feedback to sonata-like arcs. Seriously. The first phase is disorientation, the second is resistance, and the third is adaptation. The composition taught me that stability is overrated. Tension gives birth to change.

Renato Fernandes, Clinical Nutritionist, Saude Pulso

Tan’s Novel Bridges Cultural Generations

One book that significantly changed my perspective on my identity and culture is “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan. As someone straddling two cultures, the stories of Chinese-American daughters and their immigrant mothers hit home deeply. It helped me understand the unspoken struggles of my parents’ generation—their quiet sacrifices, cultural misunderstandings, and the emotional disconnects that often masked deep love. This book gave language to feelings I hadn’t fully processed and allowed me to view my own upbringing through a more compassionate lens. It made me appreciate the resilience behind tradition and inspired me to embrace my heritage more openly, rather than see it as something to downplay or negotiate.

Xin Zhang, Marketing Director, Guyker

Hong’s Book Empowers Asian-American Leadership

One book that deeply reshaped my perspective on identity and culture is “Minor Feelings” by Cathy Park Hong. As a woman of Asian descent navigating entrepreneurship in the U.S. and operating globally, her words articulated emotions I hadn’t fully unpacked—feelings of invisibility, quiet resilience, and navigating spaces not built with us in mind. Her candid exploration of the Asian-American experience helped me embrace my cultural nuance not as a complication but as a strength. It made me more intentional in how I lead, especially in cross-cultural contexts like our operational base in China. The book gave me language for my own contradictions and pride in my roots.

Qianqian He, Founder, BOXKING GAMING

Walker’s Novel Ignites Cultural Self-Discovery

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker changed everything for me.

Reading that book as a young Black woman—especially one raised between cultures, being born in Zimbabwe and growing up in the United States—made me feel seen in a way I didn’t even know I needed. The resilience, the silence, the reclaiming of voice, the complexity of sisterhood and self-worth… it shook me. It was the first time I fully realized how deeply generational trauma and suppressed dreams can ripple through someone’s life—and how reclaiming your voice, even in the smallest moments, is revolutionary.

It made me more intentional about how I speak to myself and how I advocate for others, especially women who feel unseen or undervalued. That story helped me connect more deeply with my own roots, my faith, and my sense of purpose in creating spaces—not just physical ones through design—but emotional ones, where people feel safe, heard, and at home.

Melody Stevens, Owner, Design On A Dime Interiors

Soler’s Song Unites Global Communities

The song “El mismo sol” by Alvaro Soler had a significant impact on my perspective about cultural identity and global connection. I often play it in my Spanish classes because it beautifully expresses the idea that despite our diverse backgrounds, we all share the same sun. It’s also available in English, reinforcing the theme of unity. Its positive message and upbeat rhythm always leave students—and me—feeling inspired and connected to a larger global community.

Joaquin Calvo, Director, Comligo Spanish

British Film Shapes Management Philosophy

I watched “Kes” when I was 17 and did not blink once. That bird, that kid, and that hopeless school system left a lasting impression. It was the first time I saw working-class grit on screen without caricature. The boy had nothing, but that kestrel gave him purpose. It gave him grace. That hit hard. Where I grew up, you learned early that you don’t get second chances. You either get clever or you get crushed.

That film shaped how I manage teams. I don’t micromanage. I give people a shot at their kestrel. If they show up on time and own the outcome, I back them. No HR buzzwords. No fake empowerment. Just space to succeed and room to make mistakes. I’ve had three drivers move into fleet operations because I said yes when others would’ve ignored them.

That’s the legacy of “Kes” for me. No excuses. No hero arcs. Just show up, stay curious, and fly if you can.

James McNally, Managing Director, SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire]

Gardel’s Tango Transforms Work Perspective

Carlos Gardel’s “Volver” is a song that pulls everything from the gut. It’s not pretty. It’s bruised, cracked, and worn, but it is honest. The first time I heard it, I was in my uncle’s garage fixing a busted radiator. He played it like it was gospel. I was maybe fifteen. I didn’t get it then, but I get it now.

The track is about memory, pain, and going back home knowing home has changed without you. It gave language to how I feel doing mold jobs in houses that once held life. An old lady passed away. Her grandson calls. We clean up forty years of steam, leaks, and grief. The silence in those walls has the same ache as Gardel’s voice.

Since then, I work differently. Less rush. More care. These houses are poems written in water damage and forgotten habits. I listen. Then I scrub.

David Struogano, Managing Director and Mold Remediation Expert, Mold Removal Port St. Lucie

Beah’s Memoir Broadens Cultural Understanding

One book that significantly changed my perspective on culture is “A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah. It’s a memoir about his experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, and it shook me to the core.

Reading about Beah’s journey, how he was stripped of his childhood, forced into violence, and then slowly reclaimed his humanity, made me reflect deeply on the privilege and stability I’ve often taken for granted. It challenged how I understood trauma, resilience, and what it means to rebuild a life when your identity has been shaped by unimaginable circumstances.

The book also changed how I view African cultures. Before reading it, I had a limited and often media-driven perspective. Beah’s storytelling brought nuance, humanity, and depth to a region that’s too often portrayed through a narrow lens of poverty or conflict. It reminded me that identity isn’t static or simple; it’s layered, shaped by both personal experience and cultural history.

Jeff Michael, Ecommerce Business Owner, Moriarty’s Gem Art

Bourdain’s Book Elevates Culinary Identity

One book that deeply impacted my perspective on identity and culture is “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain. As the owner of NYC Meal Prep, I related to the raw, honest depiction of the culinary world—its chaos, grit, and passion. But beyond the kitchen stories, it made me reflect on how food connects us to our roots, our memories, and to one another. Bourdain’s respect for global cuisines and cultural authenticity challenged me to honor the backgrounds of both our clients and our chefs. It reminded me that food isn’t just nourishment—it’s storytelling, history, and identity on a plate.

Keagan Stapley, Owner, NYC Meal Prep

Marley’s Anthem Inspires Authentic Marketing

One piece of music that significantly changed my perspective on identity and culture is “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley. The lyrics, with their call for freedom and self-awareness, really made me reflect on the importance of understanding my roots and embracing the unique experiences that shape who I am.

The song’s message about liberation, empowerment, and introspection resonates deeply, especially when navigating the fast-paced and diverse world of digital marketing. It helped me see the value in being true to one’s own identity and culture while adapting to the ever-changing landscape of global audiences. It inspired me to connect more authentically with people, embracing both our similarities and differences.

Rehana Aslam, Search Engine Marketing Specialist, Internet Marketing Firm Net

Share Your Insights

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments:

• What cultural tradition from your background do you wish more people knew about?
• How has your cultural identity influenced your life or work?
• Which story or insight in this roundup resonated with you the most, and why?

Join the conversation below!

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